Golf bag stand



June 29, 1965 B. cAYoT GOLF BAG STAND Filed July'as, 196.2`

ATTO D NEYS United States Patent O 3,191,900 GLF BAG STAND Lynn E. Cayot, Alhambra, Calif., assignor to Commonwealth Company, Alhambra, Calif., a corporation of `California i Filed July 23, 1962, Ser. No. 211,604 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-96) This invention relates to a support for a golf bag, which is designed to be positioned around the bottom of a golf bag and to support the golf bag in an erect position on the ground.

When a golf bag is placed flat on the ground, it is somewhat irritating for a golfer to try to find the desired club and to remove it from the angle of other clubs in the bag. Further, this requires constant `stooping to pull the selected club from the `bag each time. Also, on dewy mornings, it is undesirable to have the bag and clubs in Contact with the moist ground.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple device which is readily attachable to the bottom of a golf bag and has means which can be easily inserted into the ground for holding the golf bag in an upright position.

Other objects land advantages will appear hereinafter. The device of the invention, according to one embodiment, is in the form of a split band formed of a flexible material, preferably steel or other suitable metal, the end portions of the band having adjustable fastening means for attaching such end portions to provide a selected band circumference. The band carries a plurality of inwardly bent preferably adjustable clips which are positioned around the upper circumference of the band and adapted to be clipped over the bead which is normally found on a golf bag near the lower portion thereof, to thus attach the support to the golf bag. A brace spans the band to support the bottom of the golf bag, such brace, for example, comprising a pair of sleeves extending diametrically across the band, the sleeves each being connected to diametrically opposite sides of the band and in alignment With each other. The adjacent inner ends of such sleeves are spaced from each other to permit longitudinal mot-ion of the sleeves toward and away from each other as the band is adjusted by iexing to t a particular golf bag, as Will be described more fully hereinafter.

A bar is provided which, according to a preferred embodiment, is slidably received within the above noted sleeves, the outer end of the bar normally extending exteriorly of the bar. The bar is provided wth an aperture in the outer end thereof to receive a spike which is mounted on the exterior of the band for axial movement of the spike through the aperture of the bar, a guide member being mounted on the band for guiding axial motion of the spike in a direction normal to the plane of the bar. A plurality of axially positioned spaced grooves are provided on the outer surface ofthe spike, and a spring latch or detent is mounted on the band and adapted to be received iny the respective grooves in the spike to maintain the spike iixed in a selected axial position.

The invention will be more clearly understood Vby reference to the description below of a preferred embodiment, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 shows the-invention device mounted on the bottom of a golf bag;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the invention device;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5` is a view taken online 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is aV section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational detail showing the spike, the mounting therefor, and the spring latch;

FIG. 8 is a detail taken on line 8 8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a modification of the spike and spring detent employed in cooperation therewith; and

FIG. l0 is a view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

Referring to the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates a golf stand or support 12 mounted on a conventional type golf bag 14, for upporting such golf bag in upright vertical position on the ground 15.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 to 6, numeral 16 designates a band of generally elliptical shape adapted to be positioned around thebottom portion of a golf bag which is generally of elliptical cross section. Band 16 is split and is preferably formed of a metal which has sufficient flexibility to permit the band to be placed snugly g around the bottom of the bag and the end portions of the band adjusted and attached to iixedly secure the band around the golf bag. For this purpose, one end of band 16 carries an integral iiange 1S and the adjacent end portion of the band carries a flange 20 having an angle member 22 which tits against the outside of the band and is held thereagainst by crimping the upper and lower edges 26 of member 22 around the upper and lower edges of the band. The band 16 carries a plurality of arcuately spaced holes 28 adapted to receive a bolt and nut fastener 29 carried by member 22, to position iiange 20 at various selected positions around a portion of the band for purposes of adjusting the circumference of the band to t a particular golf bag. Aligned lower apertures 31 and aligned upper apertures 33 are provided in flanges 13 and 20 to receive a pair of bolt and nut fasteners, one of which is indicated at 30, for attaching the end portions of the band securely in any selected position.

l Spanning the lower edge of the band 16 is a split brace, designated 32 and formed of a pair of aligned sleeves 34 and 36 which are spaced apart at their inner ends 35 and 37 to permit diametrical adjustment of the band. 16 about a particular bag. The sleeves 34 and 36 are in a plane parallel to the plane of the band 16. Sleeve 34 is connected to the interior surface of band 16 by means of an upwardly extending end portion 38 connected to the band by means of a bolt and nut fastener indicated at 40, and the other sleeve 36 is connected to the interior of the diametrically opposite side of the band by means of an upwardly extending bent portion 42 which is attached to the band by an suitable means such as by welding. Received for slidable movement within sleeves 34 and 36 is a flat bar 44, the outer end 46 of which is provided with a circular aperture 4S.

Vertically mounted on the surface of band 16 is a guide member 5i? of generally circular cross section, which receives for guided slidable movement therein a spike 52 which passes through the aperture 4S of the bar 44, and which is adapted to be displaced axially in a plane normal to the plane of bar 44, as most clearly seen in FIG. 3. Spike 52 has a plurality, shown as three in number in FIG. 3, of axially spaced grooves 56 each of which extends entirely around the circumference of the spike. A spring 53 is fastened at 6i) to the outer surface of band 16 adjacent bar 44, the spring having a looped semicircular intermediate portion 60 which is adapted to be received within the respective groovesV 56 of the spike 52.

It will be readily `seen from FIGS. 7 and 8 that when the looped portion 6G' of spring 58 is received within one of the grooves 56 of the spike, the spike will be maintained in a fixed axial position. The spike can be moved to another axial position by pulling the end of spring 5S arenoso e3 out of the groove S6 in which it is positioned, and permitting axial movement of the spike 52 to a diiierent axial position until the looped semicircular portion 65 of spring S8 snaps into another groove 56 at the selected axial position of the spike.

The band i6 carries a plurality, shown as three in number' in FIG. 2, of clips 62 each having at its upper cnd an inwardly bent tongue 64, each of the clips being connected to the band by means of a bolt and nut fastener 63. lt will be seen in FIG. 3 that each of the clips 62 is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced holes 66 to permit adjustment of the height of the clips 62 by placing the fastener 68 in any one of the selected holes 66 and an aligned hole 69 in the band.

ri`he above described device is positioned on a golf bag and operated in the following manner. rthe band 16 is placed around the bottom of the golf bag 14 and the brace 32 pushed up against the bottom of the bag. The clips 62 are then adjusted vertically so that the inwardly bent upper portion, or tongues 64 thereof are positioned to rest on the upper edge 7) of the bead 72 normally positioned around the lower end portion of the golf bag, as best seen in FG. 4. The end portions of the band 16 are then drawn tightly around the golf bag and fastened tightly together by means of the bolt and nut fasteners Si). The split brace 32 permits diametrical adjustment of the band 16 on the golf bag while the bar 44 is slidable within the sleeves 34 and 36 forming the brace, but is maintained in fixed position with respect to the spike 52 due to passage of the spike through the bar. The axial position of `spike 52 is then adjusted to provide the desired length 52 of spike 52 which depends below the band 16, as shown in FIG. 3, by manipulation of the cooperating spring detent 53 into the desired groove 56 in the spike, in the manner described above. The length of depending spike S2 desired will depend on the hardness or softness of the ground on which the bag is to be supported.

The golfers foot is then forced down on the outer end portion 46 of the bar 44 to drive the spike point 54 into the ground and to sink the lower portion 52 of spike 52 into the ground to a depth approximately up to the bottom edge of the band 16 so that the bottom edge of the band and the brace 32 supporting the golf bag, are substantially in contact with the ground. lt will be seen that the maintenance of the long inner portion of bar 44 within sleeves 34 and 36 of the brace 32, aids in preventing bending of the bar when the foot is forced down onto the short outer portion 46 of the bar. The golf bag is now supported in upright position within the band 16, and on the brace 36 and on the bar 44, and the bag is thus prevented from toppling over due to the positive attachment of the band to the spike and the iixing of the spike in the ground. With the bag in this position as seen in FIG. l, any club in the bag is easily seen and removed Ifrom the top of the bag without any stooping or bending by the golfer. When it is desired to move the bag after a shot is made, the bag simply can be pulled upwardly to remove the spike from the ground and carried to the next location, where the above described operation may be repeated for positioning the bag with the invention device attached thereto, in upright position on the ground.

In FIGS. 9 and l() is shown a modified form of the spike and spring latch or detent mechanism. Spike 72 has a plurality of axially spaced notches '74 similar to the grooves 56 in spike 52, except that such notches are formed in only a small arcuate portion of the periphery of the spike as seen in FIG. iii. A substantially straight spring 7S is connected at Si) to the band i6, the outer end portion of spring '7S being adapted to be received within one of the respective notches 74 of the spike 72 to lock the spike in a fixed axial position, when the spike is rotated by means of the handle 76 to the proper angular position, as indicated in full lines in FIG. l0. When the spike '72 is rotated to a position at which spring 73 rotates out of said notch and onto the outer circumferential portion of spike 72', that is to the dotted line position of the spring shown in FIGS. l0, the spike 72 can siide axially while in contact with the spring and can be moved axially through the aperture in bar 44 to a difierent selected position at which the spike is again rotated so that the spring 73 can be received in another notch 74 or the spike to maintain it in this new selected position. By means of this embodiment, in addition to manipulating or adjusting the position of spike 76' by hand, the handle 76 of spike 76 can be rotated and used to adjust, that is, to raise or lower, the length of the spike in the ground, by means of the golfers foot only, without removing the spike from the ground, and while the golf bag remains in a stationary position on the ground.

it is accordingly seen that the simple device of the invention has the advantages of permitting placement of the golf clubs in plain View for easy selection and ready accessibility, eliminating tiresome stooping and lifting of a golf bag placed in horizontal position on the ground, and keeping the clubs dry and protecting them from scuiiing and scratching.

While I have described particular embodiments of my invention for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that various modifications and adaptations thereof may be made within the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A golf bag stand for supporting a golf bag having a bead positioned circumferentially around the lower end thereof, which comprises a split band, adjustable fastening means for attaching the end portions of said band for a selected band circumference, a brace spanning said band to support the bottom of said golf bag, said brace comprising a pair of sleeves extending diametrically across said band, said sleeves each being connected to dianietrically opposite side of said band, said sleeves being in alignment with each other, the adjacent inner ends of said sleeves being spaced from each other to permit longitudinal motion of said sleeves toward and away from each other, a bar having its inner end slidably received Within said sleeves, the outer end of said bar normally extending exteriorly of said band, said bar being disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of said band and being apertured in the outer end thereof to receive a spike, a spike received in the aperture of said bar and mounted on the exterior of said band for axial movement through said aperture, a guide member mounted on said band for guiding axial motion of said spike in a direction normal to the plane of said bar, a plurality of axially positioned spaced grooves in the outer surface of said spike, a spring detent mounted on said band and adapted to be received in said respective grooves, and a plurality of adjustable clips positioned around the upper circumference of said band, said clips having an inwardly bent portion at their upper ends and adapted to be positioned on said bead of said golf bag.

2. A golf bag stand as dened in claim 1, said grooves being notches formed in an arcuate portion of the periphery of said spike, and including a handle mounted near the upper end of said spike for rotation thereof.

3. A golf bag stand which comprises a split flexible band, means for expanding and contracting said band, a brace spanning said band to support the bottom of a golf bag around which said band is adapted to be positioned, said brace being split to permit expansion and contraction of said band, a bar connected to said band and extending within said band and outwardly thereof in a plane parallel to the plane of said band, said bar being apertured to receive a spike, a spike mounted on the exterior of said band for axial movement of said spike through said aperture, a guide member mounted on said band for guiding axial motion of said spike in a direction normal to the plane of said bar, and means for maintaining said spike fixed in a selected position, said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of axially positioned spaced retaining members on the outer surface of said spike, and spring means supported by said band and adapted to be received by said respective retaining members for fixing said spike in a selected axial position, said brace comprising a pair of sleeves extending diametrically across said band, said sleeves each being connected to diametrically opposite sides of said band, said sleeves being in alignment with each other, the adjacent inner ends of said sleeves being spaced from each other to permit longitudinal motion of said lsleeves toward and away from each other, said bar including an inner portion slidably receive Within said sleeves.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner-` 

1. A GOLF BAG STAND FOR SUPPORTING A GOLF BAG HAVING A BEAD POSITIONED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AROUND THE LOWER END THEREOF, WHICH COMPRISES A SPLIT BAND, ADJUSTABLE FASTENING MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE END PORTIONS OF SAID BAND FOR A SELECTED BAND CIRCUMFERENCE, A BRACE SPANNING SAID BAND TO SUPPORT THE BOTTOM OF SAID GOLF BAG, SAID BRACE COMPRISING A PAIR OF SLEEVES EXTENDING DIAMETRICALLY ACROSS SAID BAND, SAID SLEEVES EACH BEING CONNECTED TO DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID BANDS, SAID SLEEVES BEING IN ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER, THE ADJACENT INNER ENDS OF SAID SLEEVES BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER TO PERMIT LONGITUDINAL MOTION OF SAID SLEEVES TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, A BAR HAVING ITS INNER END SLIDABLY RECEIVED WITHIN SAID SLEEVES, THE OUTER END OF SAID BAR NORMALLY EXTENDING EXTERIORLY OF SAID BAND, SAID BAR NORING DISPOSED IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID BAND AND BEING APERTURED IN THE OUTER END THEREOF TO RECEIVE A SPIKE, A SPIKE RECEIVED IN THE APERTURE OF SAID BAR AND MOUNTED ON THE EXTERIOR OF SAID BAND FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT THROUGH SAID APERTURE, A GUIDE MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID BAND FOR GUIDING AXIAL MOTION OF SAID SPIKE IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF SAID BAR, A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY POSITIONED SPACED GROOVES IN THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SPIKE, A SPRING DETENT MOUNTED ON SAID BAND AND ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED IN SAID RESPECTIVE GROOVES, AND A PLURALITY OF ADJUSTABLE CLIPS POSITIONED AROUND THE UPPER CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID BAND, SAID CLIPS HAVING AN INWARDLY BENT PORTION AT THEIR UPPER ENDS AND ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED ON SAID BEAD OF SAID GOLF BAG. 